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The Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales announced the winners of the Whitley Awards for 2018 at aPresentation Ceremonyheld in the foyer of the Australian Museum on 3rd October.

This beautiful space is well suited for these Award presentations as they celebrate excellence in the publication of books, and other media, that increase our knowledge of Australasian fauna and particularly its conservation. The Whitley Awards is one of the major events on the Society’s calendar. The Awards include Certificates of Commendation in a variety of zoological disciplines and target audiences; children’s books, field guides, conservation biology, periodicals and natural history. They also included a number of taxa and this year the invertebrates are well represented. The Whitley Medal and Certificate of Special Commendation are two of the most prestigious Awards in Zoological publishing. While the Medal is given for an outstanding publication (Australian Echinoderms), the Special Commendation is for a life long contribution to publishing (Tim Flannery).

Congratulations to John, Darryl, Michael and Owen for again reaching the heights with the publication of Book 2 and a Certificate of Commendation for Taxonomic Zoology. This was presented by Dr Frank Köhler from the Australian Museum.

Much fun and learning about Australia’s land snails was enjoyed at Gladstone Central SS in Science Week 2018 when the Snail Whisperer, Dr John and Lorelle visited for the day. This event was part of Queensland Museum’ s Future Makers Program.

Australian Land Snails Volume 2 covers 756 species in 39 families from an area that extends from western Queensland and New South Wales to Victoria and Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory; several species from Christmas Island are also included. The field guide is dominated by the Camaenidae (480 species) which has radiated exuberantly in the semi-arid and arid areas of Australia. Contained in the guide are more than 2000 colour images plus descriptions, distribution maps, key localities and habitat and ecology notes. Most species are illustrated in colour for the first time. Thirty-five genera and five species are described as new.

This guide is targeted at both professional and semi-professional malacologists as well as students, amateur natural historians and those involved in land management. But whether it is used as a manual for study or as an identification handbook, this field guide should be an inspiration for those with an interest in the natural world.

Volume 2 is now in the Queensland Museum bookshop (RRP $99 including GST). Also available on-line.

The Snail Whisperer has just finished filming a Scopesegment in the malacology lab at the Queensland Museum. The highlight of the segment is Fat Albert who is a Giant Panda Snail (Hedleyella falconeri) from Mt Tambourine. Fat Albert proved to be an upcoming movie star for the duration of the filming.

Another fantastic science experience organised by Dale and her team at the Moggill Catchment Group’s Kids Day at the Cottage last weekend. Our live snails did their work and intrigued children and adults alike. Fat Albert II, a large Giant Panda Snail was the highlight.

Note that the Snail Whisperer is holding not just Volume 1 but VOLUME 2!! It has finally arrived and will be released shortly. More on the radio and Channel 10 shortly.

The hugely successful Street Science event hosted by the Queensland Museum introduced the Snail Whisperer to about 2500 children and adults at the recent World Science Festival. Here are some of the highlights of the weekend.

Congratulations to the Snail Whisperer who is the winner of this award for 2018.The Queensland Natural History Award is presented annually by the Queensland Naturalists’ Club Inc. to give recognition to persons who have made outstanding contributions to natural history in Queensland. It has been awarded since 1992.

The award consists of a medallion featuring the Bunya Pine tree and is set in a polished block of Bunya Pine wood. The Bunya Pine Araucaria bidwillii is endemic to Queensland and is the symbol of the Club.

Come to this conference to hear The Snail Whisperer talk on snails of the Eyre Peninsula. If you are lucky, you can join him on a bioblitz walk where you can find the local snail fauna and learn more about snails.

From the Courier Mail 29 July, 2017. ‘Doctors may soon patch up cuts and wounds with a glue inspired by slug slime.’

Scientists have found that slug slime has the ability to stick to wet surfaces unlike most glues that require dry surfaces. Scientists have simulated the molecular structure of slug slime to create a glue that has in laboratory testing, successfully repaired a hole in a pig’s heart that was wet with blood.

The glue was flexible enough to cope with stretching and is biodegradable. This could be useful to replace staples or stitches which can cause scarring.